In Their Own Words is our Q&A feature, where we sit down with a member of the m+p team to talk about their path to this work, what keeps them inspired, and a few things that might surprise you. No corporate bios. No rehearsed talking points. Just real people, real stories, and — naturally — really good words.
Digital twins and AI personas are everywhere. Maybe you’ve built a “typical” synthetic persona that sounds uncannily real when you ask it a question. But are the responses accurate? Michael Maslansky says probably not, based on our research. When it comes to testing your message, synthetic audiences are probably giving you false confidence. Find out why in this insightful piece.
What if your communication strategy was less about intuition and more about evidence? At maslansky + partners, our linguists treat language the way scientists treat any phenomenon: we look for patterns, form hypotheses, and test them rigorously.
In this thought piece, Kat Starcevic and Alannah Connolly explore how combining linguistic rigor with real-world communication challenges—from healthcare to genomics—transforms the way organizations build trust, bridge gaps, and move audiences to action. Because when you approach language as both an art and a science, something magical happens.
When CFO Brew needed expert insight into why financial leaders avoid certain language during economic uncertainty, they knew exactly who to call: our CEO, Michael Maslansky. Michael was recently quoted in this interesting article about challenging economic conditions and the dreaded “R word.”
For decades, “healthy” was one of the most powerful words in food. It sat proudly on cereal boxes, snack packs, and frozen meals. But under the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, “healthy” is suddenly a liability. And the brands who don’t evolve their language are already paying for it in lawsuits, recalls, and reputational damage. m+p Senior Vice President Jason Martuscello shares why Language Strategy matters now more than ever.
Language shapes what we notice, remember, and act on. The words and phrases that break through—from the funny to the “cringey” to the profound—become true Language Moments. They jump out, capture our imagination, and change the way we talk and think about people, issues, and events.
In 2025, they spanned politics, business, tech, and culture. From the “Golden Age of America” and “MAHA” to “AI slop,” “job hugging,” and who can forget “Labubu”… our annual video compilation highlights the language moments that defined the year. It’s fast-paced, punchy, and packed with the year’s most memorable phrases!
Synthetic research isn’t magic. It’s not snake oil, either. It’s a tool that can deliver insights faster, more affordably, and with audiences that were previously out of reach. But like any tool, it works best when you know how and when to use it. The research projects that will win aren’t the ones that blindly adopt AI research or stubbornly avoid it. They’re the ones that ask the right questions first.
Before you commit to synthetic research – or write it off entirely – here are five steps that will help you be successful.
When Zoe Glass was offered an intern position with us at m+p, she set out on a journey to understand what Language Strategy is all about. Here, she reflects on Stuart Hall, Kelly Osbourne, and what she learned about Language Strategy.
Today, one misstep in communication can cost you trust, customers, and credibility. Whether you’re navigating the unknowns of AI, political upheaval, or global market shocks, the difference between chaos and clarity comes down to one thing: how you communicate when it matters most.
On this episode of HearSay, we talk with Michelle Russo, EVP and Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, about “Calming the Chaos.” Michelle has spent her career turning uncertainty into opportunity—and she shares some real-world communication strategies to help businesses not just survive, but win in this environment.
Consumer rage is surging. Customers feel betrayed–and people are reaching a breaking point. Across the country, once-trusted brands are raising prices, shrinking products, and making customer service harder to access. Playing short-term games with customer trust is a dangerous gamble. Michael Maslansky shares three principles to help companies do better by treating customers fairly.
